1. While one part of me thinks we were fortunate to get a four seed, the other part of me that's still bitter about last year points out that last year's four seed would beat this year's four seed by an easy twenty points.
2. Which brings me to a broader point; man, how weak is this field if we're a four seed. I mean honestly? Bilas made an interesting point between Christian Laettner tweet defenses and that is the weakness and lack of controversy at the bubble probably spells a lack of compelling early round upsets and matchups (which is the entirety of the reason I was so upset about last year's draw...it was purely based on the projected weakness of first and second round ratings).
3. Kentucky. I've said this a million times to Kentucky fans when it comes to their overinflated sense of "You won a title over a weak field" or "College Basketball is down" back in 2013...there are no asterisks on championship banners or title banners. They're either up there for eternity or they're taken down because the NCAA deems so. Kentucky has the same benefit of the doubt. It doesn't matter that the SEC is flotsom nor does it matter that there doesn't look like anybody outside of the Top Five who could win a game against the Top Ten of last year or the teams realistically that were in the Final Four from 2012-2014...Kentucky is well clear of this field and that's all that matters. They earned a clear path to the Final Four. There are very few teams in the field that can challenge them. To me it's the exclusive turf of Arizona and Wisconsin with perhaps Gonzaga. Duke doesn't defend. UVa has more dry spells than the Sahara.
4. As for us...I have no earthly idea. This team had the look in the last five minutes of the UNC game and ND games of a team playing out the string. I was intrigued by Eric Crawford's seven points for us...that we probably benefit from unknown ways with extra practices vs. playing deeper in the ACC tourney (one I sort of subscribe to...but it's unchartered for us in the last ten years). Intriguing further to me was his chuck it and "Go Big" lineup of Harrell at a three, Wayne at the two and Mahmoud at the 4. Intriguing with a whiff of desperation; a shell game of flaws.
To me if we make it out of the first weekend I am beyond satisfied. If we don't...the transfer watch begins but we don't have the luxury really of clearing space to make room for immediate talent; we need the Jalen Johnsons, Onuakus and Aarons to develop.
2. Which brings me to a broader point; man, how weak is this field if we're a four seed. I mean honestly? Bilas made an interesting point between Christian Laettner tweet defenses and that is the weakness and lack of controversy at the bubble probably spells a lack of compelling early round upsets and matchups (which is the entirety of the reason I was so upset about last year's draw...it was purely based on the projected weakness of first and second round ratings).
3. Kentucky. I've said this a million times to Kentucky fans when it comes to their overinflated sense of "You won a title over a weak field" or "College Basketball is down" back in 2013...there are no asterisks on championship banners or title banners. They're either up there for eternity or they're taken down because the NCAA deems so. Kentucky has the same benefit of the doubt. It doesn't matter that the SEC is flotsom nor does it matter that there doesn't look like anybody outside of the Top Five who could win a game against the Top Ten of last year or the teams realistically that were in the Final Four from 2012-2014...Kentucky is well clear of this field and that's all that matters. They earned a clear path to the Final Four. There are very few teams in the field that can challenge them. To me it's the exclusive turf of Arizona and Wisconsin with perhaps Gonzaga. Duke doesn't defend. UVa has more dry spells than the Sahara.
4. As for us...I have no earthly idea. This team had the look in the last five minutes of the UNC game and ND games of a team playing out the string. I was intrigued by Eric Crawford's seven points for us...that we probably benefit from unknown ways with extra practices vs. playing deeper in the ACC tourney (one I sort of subscribe to...but it's unchartered for us in the last ten years). Intriguing further to me was his chuck it and "Go Big" lineup of Harrell at a three, Wayne at the two and Mahmoud at the 4. Intriguing with a whiff of desperation; a shell game of flaws.
To me if we make it out of the first weekend I am beyond satisfied. If we don't...the transfer watch begins but we don't have the luxury really of clearing space to make room for immediate talent; we need the Jalen Johnsons, Onuakus and Aarons to develop.
